National Security Blues

Annotation

Bastard Records BS1984: "Any similarity to persons or places living or dead is purely coincidental". Anti-Nixon / Watergate novelty - reference to arresting Vietnam War demonstrators. B-side patriotic protest.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Ellsberg & Pentagon Papers Songs

Obscure blues rock novelty group, as seen with the title of the band - Tricky Dick & The Kiss-Singers - of course named after President Richard Nixon, and his National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger. They released the song "National Security Blues", which addressed the issue of wire-taping citizens under the pretence of "national security". Note the record label was called "Bastard Records" and the catalogue number was "BS" ("bullshit") and "1984" - as in the George Orwell's dystopian social science fiction novel. Also printed on the record was "any similarity to persons or places living or dead is purely coincidental". The song writing is credited to Olof Linder. The lyrics note that Nixon was "raiding doctor's offices" - a clear reference to the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office on 03 September 1971, in an attempt to find evidence to discredit him.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Unknown - a listing exists for "National Security Blues" / "Song Of The Land" credited to Tricky Dick & The Kiss-Singers / Myk Lynder (blues-rock single), but the page carrying it (RateYourMusic) is 403 and Discogs has nothing, so label, catalogue and year are unrecovered. "Tricky Dick" is the Nixon nickname - a Nixon-era persona novelty, recorded as a date fact. [Source: RYM listing only]

Themes

Nixon · Watergate · Demonstration · Anti-War · Daniel Ellsberg · Pentagon Papers

In collections

Ellsberg & Pentagon Papers Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs